Milton resident Mary Lyall, mother of Suzanne Lyall, a University at Albany student who went missing in 1998, speaks to attendees of the 13th annual NYS Missing Persons Day, held Saturday, April 5, 2014, at the New York State Museum in Albany, N.Y. Mary and her husband, Doug Lyall, shown at right, first proposed the event’s creation in 2001.
Molly Eadie - for The saratogian

Photos of missing persons are displayed on an easel as part of an informational display for the 13th annual NYS Missing Persons Day, held Saturday, April 5, 2014, at the New York State Museum in Albany.
Molly Eadie - for The saratogian

ALBANY >> About 200 people, many the family and friends of missing persons, gathered at the New York State Museum Saturday for a day of education, unity and hope during the 13th annual NYS Missing Persons Day.

“Those left behind are sometimes referred to as a club no one wants to belong to,” said Doug Lyall, who, with his wife, Mary, first proposed the creation of the day in 2001.

Milton residents Mary and Doug Lyall are the parents of Suzanne Lyall, who went missing from Collins Circle at the University at Albany on March 2, 1998, under suspicious circumstances. Suzanne was 19 at the time, and remains missing.

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The Lyalls have been active in missing persons issues since then, establishing the Center for Hope, a non-profit organization that educates, assists and supports families and friends of missing persons. They have assisted in passing two federal laws, Suzanne’s Law in 2003, which heightened responses to missing young adults, and the Suzanne Lyall Campus Security Act in 2007, requiring U.S. colleges to develop written plans in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies.

“Most families want to know even if it’s not the answer they are looking for,” said Doug Lyall. “They want some sort of resolution.”

Doug Lyall said some families face difficulty filing a missing person report, and may be told by police to check back in a couple days.

“But time is the enemy here,” he said. “Our motto is assume the worst, if you’re law enforcement. Act on it.”

The family and friends of Amanda King, 29, had that problem five months ago when King went missing from Conifer Park Rehabilitation Center in October. Her best friend, Katie Burns, said Glenville Police Department didn’t look into the case immediately, as King was an adult and didn’t go missing under unusual circumstances.

Her father, Arthur King, said his daughter is known to come and go from his house, but previously never went more than a week without calling him. King was last seen by friends in Albany getting into a car.

“No matter what trouble she was in, she always called her father,” said Burns, who said a loved one’s intuition is what’s important. “People need to be willing to listen to that.”

Arthur King contacted the Albany Police Department, because King was last seen in Albany, and they knew Det. John Coleman had been working on the case for Ashley Caroll, a 24-year-old who went missing in 2010.

King says Coleman has had some tips, but no solid information.

“They’ve been helpful and compassionate,” said Burns. The family is offering a $2,000 reward.

King is 5 feet -3 inches tall and weighs about 110 pounds, with long, blonde hair and blue eyes.

Doug Lyall said one purpose of Missing Person’s Day is to help families with newly missing know where to look for resources and support. He said organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Team H.O.P.E., and National Missing and Unidentified Persons System can all be helpful to families and friends of missing children or adults.

The National Missing and Unidentified System, part of the U.S. Department of Justice, takes DNA samples from families of missing persons and compares them to unidentified persons in the database. Families can also enter information about missing persons on the website, namus.gov.

At the event Saturday, families could bring DNA samples to compare with unidentified deceased persons in the database.

Doug Lyall also said that being active in organizations and groups, and helping other people with missing loved ones, can help people feel like they are doing something and show them they are not alone.

“At least for today, there’s a sense of belonging,” he said. “Fighting the feeling of isolation is really important.”